8 INCROYABLE months on a bike!

Asia » China » Xinjiang
March 21st 2014

Published: April 21st 2014

I still can’t believe it’s over. It’s actually been a while now. After cycling from Gansu Province to Xinjiang, then on to the <em style="line-height: 1.428571429;">Stans , Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, I am back with Becky in Beijing, China. I have a good job (back to teaching) and surprisingly often enough the sky is amazingly blue over the city. Of course there ... Read Full Entry

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Jeremy Chiron

Jeremyaroundtheworld

I am a 36-year old language teacher, currently working in Beijing. I was born in France but China has been my home for many years. I taught French and English in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, for 6 years. I never thought I would stay in China for such a long time but it’s been an amazing experience! Professionally speaking, teaching Chinese students is extremely rewarding. They are so hard-working and eager to learn new things. And then China… there aren’t enough words to describe this intricate (hence fascinating) country. “China is not to be liked or disliked: i... full info

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Michel is ready to hunt at lake Song-Kol

Altitude 3018m

at lake Song-Kol

our campsite in the background

is this working?

at Lake Song-Kol in Kyrgyzstan, September 2013

overlooking Lake Song-Kol, Kyrgyzstan

pretty remote place

great memories of Lake Song-Kol

Cycling down on a cold day

with my Dad and Michel. Kyrgyz yaks!

This is Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz know how to host!

beshbarmak

large flat noodles topped with lamb cooked in vegetable broth. It is traditionally eaten by hand (besh barmak = 5 fingers)

Thank you to our hosts in Kochkor!

I like your hat. may i take a photo?

in Bishkek

Will Mom buy a Kyrgyz mattress?

nan bread in Bishkek

at the end of September I flew back to China to spend time with my girlfriend

This is a view of the Tian Shan Mountains between Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang province.

Becky and I in Beijing!

beck together for a few weeks

During the October holiday we tried to get away from crowds

and we found the best place in Anhui Province. It was the first time the Becky camped. We walked and walked and walked until we found the perfect spot to spend the night.

then we took a bus to Hangzhou...

and spent the afternoon around West Lake... This is what the West Lake looks like during national holidays! A nightmare!

relaxed in Anhui Province

for a few days away from everything and everyone

yes, follow me! It's safe! I'm sure we can get to the top of the mountain this way

We tried to find a quiet place to get away during the National holiday

but it's difficult to get away in China. there are people everywhere!

This is the little village where we started hiking

in Anhui Province, a few hours away from Shanghai

21st April 2014

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

I was so happy to hear that Becky wants to join you next time...
I thought it was going to be a choice between her and the road. Now you can "have your cake and eat it too." The TB community looks forward to your completion of the Silk Road and your blogs. Meanwhile blog about life in China with Becky...and the joys of teaching languages. And you might go back and tell about your life in the U.S. and Australia.

22nd April 2014

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

Fantastic summary!
Thanks for the lovely summary of your incredible bike trip, I especially loved reading about the encounters you had with local people. Even after just a month away, putting on work clothes and shoes seemed odd - so I can imagine how you felt going back to city and working life again. Hope you hear about your next adventures soon! :)

22nd April 2014

denidax
Deni, Dax and Ella

Congratulations! What I loved the most is how extremely happy you look on all your photos! Please, don't stop blogging after this. All the best

23rd April 2014

auspicious
Michelle Duer

How surreal! I loved these lines: "Yes, I had to cook my own food; I often didn’t have running water (rivers), and on a few nights it got very cold (my water bottles froze inside my tent on many occasions) but I didn’t owe anything to anyone. It was just me and the stars, the birds and I, the dunes and I, and the sound of water or the ice-cracking at night." -- such a liberating and self-aware journey!

23rd April 2014

taracloud
Tara Cloud

Freedom on the open road...
Great summary of a most amazing journey! I love the freedom that you got, stopping where ever you wanted and seeing things up close, better than in a bus or car. Fabulous encounters with the locals that touched my heart, too. I'm sure you and Becky will have some adventures in China, so I look forward to those. Bon voyage!

23rd April 2014

At Lake Karakol, south of Kashgar, on the way to Pakistan

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

I CAN DO ANYTHING
Fabulous adventure...fabulous achievement...how wonderful you could share it...with locals...with Becky...and with your TB friends in the ether. While memories may fade over time you have zillions of great photos to relive and revive your soul. But one thing that will remain with you I am sure...is the knowledge that you can do anything you set your mind to...yep...anything.

9th May 2014

ingnova
Ingrida

Thanks for sharing
This last log sums it up, how incredible it was. Amazed about organizing all gear for such grand trip and puzzled what part of Europe would be nice to cycle, may be Finland for me in the summer.. Welcome to the Baltics if you ever make to this part :) Sure, its nothing of significance of nature like isolated mountains and deserts of Asia. yes, better lets keep dreaming :)

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8 INCROYABLE months on a bike!

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